Blade implement and method of use

ABSTRACT

A blade implement includes a support structure and a blade attached to a utility bucket. The blade is substantially beneath the utility bucket. A method of using the blade implement including positioning the blade against a road surface and the step of moving the blade across the road surface for road treatment.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates generally to road surface treatment, inparticular, to apparatus and methods for treating road surfaces with ablade implement.

Road surfaces typically need to be treated for a number of differentreasons. Specifically, roads may need to have snow removed, materialbackfilled into a ditch beside the road, new shoulders cut into existingroadways, the gravel base of existing roadways widened, the entireroadway sub-grade cut out, or generally material displaced from theroad. These tasks are achieved in the prior art by specialty equipment.However, it is desirable to be able to quickly and easily modifyexisting equipment such that they achieve the above results.

Accordingly, a primary objective of the present invention is theprovision of a blade implement adapted to be attached to a utilityloader bucket.

The specialty equipment of the prior art often is incorrectly sized foruse upon narrow roadways, residential driveways, shoulders of existingroadways, or other narrow areas. Accordingly, another objective of thepresent invention is the provision of a blade implement with a narrowblade cutting surface that has the ability of treating surfaces narrowerthan that which specialty equipment may efficiently treat.

Specialty equipment by their nature is not adapted for more than oneuse. Accordingly, a further objective of the present invention is theprovision of providing a grading feature to a general utility industrialtractor such as a scoop tractor and to provide the option of the userusing the scoop tractor for surface treatment.

A further objective of the present invention is the provision of a bladeimplement which permits adjustable angle of the blade thereby allowingmaterials to be transferally.

A still further objective of the present invention is the provision of ablade implement having a swivel which permits the blade to rotate 360°.In the prior art, the attachments do not allow a variety of differentsurface treatments including front treatment and then rear treatment ofthe road surfaces. As the loader unit travels in reverse, deep cuttingaction can be achieved by use of the dump or cupping control of theloader unit while traveling forward or backwards.

A still further objective of the present invention is the provision of ablade implement which is economical to manufacture and durable in use.

These and other objectives will become apparent from the followingdescription of the invention.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The blade implement of the present invention includes a utility bucketadapted to be attached to an industrial vehicle that has an open front,a closed back, and a closed underside. The blade implement also has asupport structure attached to the underside of the utility bucket and ablade attached to the support structure that is substantially beneaththe utility bucket. The blade implement of the present invention alsoincludes a method of using the blade implement comprising providing anindustrial vehicle having a utility bucket with a blade attached to theunderside and substantially beneath the utility bucket. The method alsohas the step of positioning the blade against a road surface and thestep of moving the blade across the road surface for road treatment. Theblade implement of the present invention also includes a blade implementwith a mounting plate adapted to be attached to an industrial vehicle, aswivel moveably attached to the mounting plate, and a blade attached tothe swivel radially moveable beneath the mounting plate.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a front perspective view of the blade implement attached tothe utility bucket of an industrial vehicle.

FIG. 2 is a rear view of the mounting plate, swivel, and blade.

FIG. 3 is a bottom view of the mounting plate, swivel with locking bardetail and blade.

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional side view through the middle of the mountingplate, guide ring, swivel plate, retainer ring, and blade components.

FIG. 5 is a front perspective view of a blade implement upon a skidsteer fastened with bolts.

FIG. 6 is a front perspective view of a blade implement upon a heavyloader tractor and attached by bolts.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

The blade implement of the present invention is generally designated inthe drawings by the reference numeral 10.

As seen in FIG. 1, the blade implement 10 is located on an industrialvehicle 12. The industrial vehicle 12 generally has wheels 14, a vehiclebody 16, and a forward facing cab 18 upon the vehicle body 16. Attachedto the vehicle body 16 is also a lift system 20 designed to manipulateimplements in front of the cab. Typically, the industrial vehicle 12 hashydraulic cylinders 22, coupled with physical joint and pivot points 24to transmit force from the hydraulic cylinders 22 to the implement 10.The implement 10 is attached to the hydraulic system 20 by bucket pivots(not shown). The implement 10 such as a utility bucket, may be raised orlowered using the lift system 20 and may also be tilted forward or backby a bucket hydraulic system 28 (as shown in FIG. 6).

Implements that might be attached to the industrial vehicle include autility bucket 30. The utility bucket 30 is common because it is veryversatile and often is the only device used upon the industrial vehicle12. The bucket 30 versatility stems from its familiar use to theoperator, the forward location upon vehicle 12, and the vehicle's 12ability to transmit force from the lift system 20 to the bucket 30.

The blade implement 10, as illustrated in FIG. 1, is attached to theutility bucket 30. The utility bucket 30 has an open front 32, a closedback 34 and a closed underside 36. The bucket 30 has a width “W” and alength “L”.

A support structure 40 is attached to the underside 36 of the bucket 30.A blade 42 is attached to the support structure 40.

As seen in FIG. 2, the support structure has a mounting plate 50. Metaltabs 52 secure the mounting plate 50 to the closed rear side of thebucket 30. Also, as seen in FIG. 1 on the front side of the utilitybucket, the mounting plate 50 has an engaging slot 53 attached to themounting plate 50.

The mounting plate 50 is designed to be a quick attachment to theutility bucket. Attached to the mounting plate 50 as seen in FIG. 2 is aswivel 54. As seen in FIG. 2, the swivel 54 has a guide ring 56 attachedto the mounting plate 50 and a swivel plate 58 marked in dash lines 57which rotates within the guide ring 56 and a retainer ring 60 which fitsover the guide ring 56 and swivel plate 58 holding the swivel plate 58in place and providing a place for the swivel plate 58 to be locked inplace. Extending from the swivel plate 58 are moldboard supports 62. Twomoldboard supports 62 are positioned against the swivel plate 58. Thesupport 62 is welded to the swivel plate 58.

Attached to the moldboard support 62 is a cross beam 68 which extendsbetween and outward a first and second moldboard supports 62. Themoldboard 70 fits against the moldboard support 62 and the cross beam 68such that force striking against the moldboard 70 is transmitted to themoldboard support 62 and the cross beam 68 and into the industrialvehicle 12.

A cutting edge 72 is attached to the moldboard 70 by attachment 74. Theattachment is commonly a bolt and nut combination. Alternatively, thecutting edge 72 may be welded to the moldboard 70. Preferably, thecutting edge 72 is detachable from the moldboard 70 so that replacementcutting edge 72 may be supplied as the cutting edge 72 will wear at arate faster than the moldboard 70.

Preferably, if the attachment 74 is a bolt, the bolt is flush mounted tojoin the cutting edge 72 to the moldboard 74 such that particulatestraveling along the cutting edge 72 and moldboard 70 are not interferedwith the attachment 74.

FIG. 3 illustrates the bottom view of the swivel. Preferably theretaining ring 60 has locking notches 80 around the circumference. Alocking bar 82 is moveable between the locking notch 80 and an openposition by pulling upon handle 84. When the handle 84 is pulled itmoves a locking bar 82 away from the locking notch 80. Preferably aspring 86 is provided which biases the locking bar 82 towards a seatedposition in the locking notch 80. Alternatively, the locking notches 80may be on the swivel and the locking bar 82 extend from the retainingring 60.

An alternate locking system (not shown) is the reverse of the system inFIG. 3. In this alternate system, the swivel has locking notches 80around the circumference. A locking bar 82 is attached to the retainingring and is moveable between the locking notch 80 and an open positionby pulling upon handle 84. When the handle 84 is pulled it moves alocking bar 82 away from the locking notch 80 upon the swivel.

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional side view provided to show the orientationof the moldboard along a center line of the swivel plate 54.

FIG. 5 is provided showing the industrial vehicle 12 as a skid steerwith a support structure 40 that does not use a swivel. Instead, thesupport structure is made up of a T-bar 90 being bolted to the underside36 of the bucket 30 at a plurality of locations 92 and also bolted tothe moldboard 70 with cutting edge 72 at location 94. The embodiment ismuch simpler than the swivel plate 54 and provides a similar actionacross a road surface but requires more extensive manipulation by userto adjust the angle of the cutting edge 72.

FIG. 6 illustrates a blade attached to a large loader bucket tractor 12without a swivel 54. In this embodiment, the blade only takes up aportion of the loader bucket 30.

In use, the user positions the blade 42 against a road surface and movesthe blade 42 across the road surface such that the cutting edge 72 andmoldboard 70 contact the surface. The material is moved off to the sideif it is angled or pushed forward if it is in a perpendicular position.In further use, the user may angle the blade to permit more specificclearing of the material from the side of the blade. Preferably, theblade 42 is angled such that the material is swept away from the user'sfront tire 14.

The user may adjust the pressure of the moldboard 70 and cutting edge 72against the roadside by tilting the utility bucket 30 forward. The usermay also manipulate the cutting edge 72 to dig a deep furrow and gougethe roadside. This gouging action is effective for placing conduitunderneath a roadway or creating depth for curbing or simply widening anexisting roadbed. Finally, the user may move the blade 42 from center ofthe bucket 30 to the side of the bucket 30, especially when used withheavy industrial vehicles 12. This provides a controlled area of theroad being acted upon and also provides a much narrower area to beworked on.

Finally, the user may adjust the blade 42 so that the user may move theindustrial vehicle 12 in a backwards direction. This direction providesthe user with a more controlled action as the blade 42 can be observedfrom the cab 18 of the vehicle 12.

The invention has been shown and described above with the preferredembodiments, and it is understood that many modifications,substitutions, and additions may be made which are within the intendedspirit and scope of the invention. From the foregoing, it can be seenthat the present invention accomplishes at least all of the statedobjectives.

1. A blade implement comprising: a utility bucket adapted to be attachedto an industrial vehicle, the utility bucket having an open front, aclosed back, a closed underside, a length, and a width, a supportstructure attached to the underside of the utility bucket; and a bladeattached to the support structure and substantially beneath the utilitybucket.
 2. The blade implement of claim 1 wherein the support structurecomprises a mounting plate approximately covering the underside of theutility bucket and permitting easy removal from the utility bucket. 3.The blade implement of claim 1 wherein the support structure comprises aswivel permitting radial movement of the blade.
 4. The blade implementof claim 3 wherein the support structure further comprises a lockingmember for engaging the swivel and preventing radial movement of theblade.
 5. The blade implement of claim 4 wherein the support structurefurther comprises a retainer ring adjacent the swivel for engaging thelocking member and preventing radial movement of the blade.
 6. The bladeimplement of claim 3 wherein the blade is permitted 360 degrees ofmovement.
 7. The blade implement of claim 1 further comprising aplurality of predesignated blade positions for defining a blade angle.8. The blade implement of claim 1 wherein the blade is approximatelyequal to the width of the utility bucket.
 9. The blade implement ofclaim 1 wherein the blade is only a portion of the width of the utilitybucket.
 10. The blade implement of claim 9 wherein the blade ispositioned off-center of the utility bucket.
 11. The blade implement ofclaim 1 wherein the industrial vehicle is a skid steer.
 12. The bladeimplement of claim 1 wherein the industrial vehicle is an industrialloader.
 13. A method of using a blade implement comprising: providing anindustrial vehicle having a utility bucket with a closed underside and ablade attached to the underside and substantially beneath the utilitybucket; positioning the blade against a road surface; and moving theblade across the road surface for road treatment.
 14. The method ofclaim 13 further comprising angling the blade relative industrialvehicle movement to permit clearing of material from the blade.
 15. Themethod of claim 13 further comprising tilting the utility bucket forwardto gouge a furrow.
 16. The method of claim 13 further comprisingoff-setting the blade relative a centerline of the bucket.
 17. A bladeimplement comprising: a mounting plate adapted to be attached to anindustrial vehicle; a swivel moveably attached to the mounting plate;and a blade attached to the swivel radially moveable beneath themounting plate.
 18. The blade implement of claim 17 further comprising alocking member attached to the swivel for engaging the mounting plateand setting a blade angle.
 19. The blade implement of claim 18 furthercomprising a retainer ring attached to the mounting plate, the retainerring defining locking notches for receiving the locking member.
 20. Theblade implement of claim 17 wherein the blade is permitted 360 degreesof movement.